Bolt tool system having automatic lock pin for activator

Abstract

A bolt tool system includes a tool housing, a bolt guide, a bolt, an activator, a pin casing, and a lock pin. The bolt guide is attached to the tool housing. The bolt is moveably received within the bolt guide for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The activator is moveably received on the bolt guide for movement between a safe position and a fire position. In the fire position, the bolt is moveable from the retracted position to the extended position. The pin casing has a passage in communication with an aperture formed in the activator. The lock pin is slidably received within the pin casing. The lock pin is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position in which the lock pin retains the activator in the fire position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bolt tool system, comprising:
 a tool housing; 
 a bolt guide attached to the tool housing; 
 a bolt moveably received within the bolt guide for movement between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 an activator moveably received on the bolt guide for movement between a safe position and a fire position, in the fire position the bolt being moveable from the retracted position to the extended position; and 
 an automatic lock mechanism operable to retain the activator in the fire position. 
 
     
     
       2. The bolt tool system of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic lock mechanism comprises:
 a pin casing secured to the activator, the pin casing having a passage; and 
 a lock pin slidably received within the passage of the pin casing, the lock pin moveable between a disengaged position and a engaged position in which the lock pin retains the activator in the fire position. 
 
     
     
       3. The bolt tool system of  claim 2 , wherein the activator has an aperture defined therein, the pin casing passage being in communication with the aperture defined in the activator. 
     
     
       4. The bolt tool system of  claim 3 , wherein in the engaged position, the lock pin extends through the aperture formed in the activator. 
     
     
       5. The bolt tool system of  claim 2 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the activator towards the safe position, the lock pin retaining the activator in the fire position against a biasing force of the biasing member when the lock pin is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       6. The bolt tool system of  claim 2 , wherein the bolt guide includes a recess, and in the engaged position the lock pin enters the recess to retain the activator in the fire position. 
     
     
       7. The bolt tool system of  claim 2 , further comprising a pin biasing member disposed within the pin casing, the pin biasing member biases the lock pin towards the engaged position. 
     
     
       8. The bolt tool system of  claim 7 , wherein the passage includes a pin passage adjacent the first end, a cap passage adjacent the second end, and a biasing member passage defined between the pin passage and the cap passage, the pin biasing member being disposed within the biasing member passage. 
     
     
       9. The bolt tool system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cap secured to the lock pin, and wherein when the lock pin is in the disengaged position the cap is spaced apart from a second end of the pin casing. 
     
     
       10. The bolt tool system of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt guide includes a flange portion at one end, a receiver portion at an opposite end, and a hollow stem portion that connects the flange portion to the receiver portion, the flange portion being secured to the tool housing, the receiver portion having a generally cylindrical shape with a receiver shoulder positioned between an outer surface of the receiver portion and the hollow stem, and the stem portion defining a recess between the flange portion and the receiver portion. 
     
     
       11. The bolt tool system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the automatic lock mechanism comprises:
 a pin casing secured to the activator, the pin casing having a passage; and 
 a lock pin slidably received within the passage of the pin casing, the lock pin moveable between a disengaged position and a engaged position in which the lock pin retains the activator in the fire position; and 
 
 the lock pin extending into the recess of the bolt guide in the engaged position. 
 
     
     
       12. The bolt tool system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 when the activator is in the safe position the receiver portion of the bolt guide is positioned adjacent the lock pin such that the lock pin is blocked from entering the recess; and 
 wherein upon movement of the activator from the safe position to the fire position the lock pin aligns with the recess and the lock pin is movable into the engaged position and extends into the recess. 
 
     
     
       13. The bolt tool system of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is a captive bolt. 
     
     
       14. A bolt tool system comprising:
 a tool housing; 
 a bolt guide attached to the tool housing; 
 a bolt moveably received within the bolt guide for movement between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 an activator moveably received on the bolt guide for movement between a safe position and a fire position, the activator having an aperture, in the fire position the bolt being moveable from the retracted position to the extended position; 
 a pin casing secured to the activator, the pin casing having a passage in communication with the aperture formed in the activator; and 
 a lock pin slidably received within the passage of the pin casing, the lock pin moveable between a disengaged position and a engaged position in which the lock pin retains the activator in the fire position. 
 
     
     
       15. The bolt tool system of  claim 14 , further comprising a biasing member biasing the activator towards the safe position, the lock pin retaining the activator in the fire position against a biasing force of the biasing member. 
     
     
       16. A bolt tool system comprising:
 a tool housing; 
 a hollow bolt guide having a receiver portion at one end, a flange portion at an opposite end, and a stem portion between the receiver portion and the flange portion, the flange portion secured to the tool housing; 
 a bolt moveably received within the bolt guide for movement between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 an activator moveably received on the bolt guide for movement between a safe position and a fire position, the activator having an aperture, in the fire position the bolt being moveable from the retracted position to the extended position; 
 a biasing member positioned between the activator and the flange portion of the bolt guide, the biasing member biasing the activator towards the safe position; 
 a pin casing secured to the activator, the pin casing having a passage in communication with the aperture formed in the activator; 
 a lock pin slidably received within the passage of the pin casing for movement between a disengaged position and an engaged position; and 
 a pin biasing member providing in the passage of the pin casing, the pin biasing member biasing the lock pin towards the engaged position; 
 wherein in the engaged position the lock pin retains the activator in the fire position against a biasing force of the biasing member. 
 
     
     
       17. The tool system of  claim 16 , wherein a recess is formed in the stem portion between the flange portion and the receiver portion, and in the engaged position the lock pin extends through the aperture formed in the activator and enters the recess to retain the activator in the fire position. 
     
     
       18. The tool system of  claim 17 , wherein in the disengaged position the lock pin contacts an outer surface of the receiver portion of the bolt guide. 
     
     
       19. The tool system of  claim 18 , wherein in the engaged position an exterior surface of the lock pin abuts against a receiver shoulder of the receiver portion, the receiver shoulder formed between the outer surface of the receiver portion and the stem portion. 
     
     
       20. The tool system of  claim 19 , wherein when the activator is in the fire position and the lock pin is in the engaged position, the biasing member biases the exterior surface of the lock pin against the receiver shoulder to retain the activator in the fire position.